Lez Keep It Real

As kids, we are often asked the ever-ambiguous question, “What do you want to be when you grow up? My answer (aside from rock star, actress and writer) was a professional basketball player.

OK, so I happen to be only 5’3” (5’4” with high tops on) and a woman. But even so, as a young, dreamy-eyed tomboy I still thought that I could break the mold and be the first woman athlete to play professionally in a male dominated sport. Why not? For me, there was no women’s league that I could dream of playing in. All I had was the NBA. So, along with my brothers, I had posters of Charles Barkley and Michael Jordan on my wall. I was a regular kid athlete with stars in my eyes and lofty dreams of signing a sneaker deal with Nike. I scoffed at those who said, “You can’t play in the NBA, you’re a girl.” And I kept on playing, with my head high, volunteering for my brother’s pick-up games just to prove that I could play with the big boys.

My how times have changed. Unlike me, young girls today, those with exalted aspirations of being a professional athlete, have the WNBA to look up to. When asked what they want to be when they grow up, they can flash a knowing smile and say proudly, “I want to play in the WNBA.” And no one will tell them they can’t simply because they are a girl.

These days, girls across the country have posters of Diana Taurasi and Sheryl Swoopes on their walls, they imagine holding up a shiny new jersey of the team that just drafted them number one over all in the WNBA draft, and they tune into the all star game just to see their favorite player bounce the familiar orange and oatmeal colored ball between her legs.

They look up to these players with a newfound respect and admiration because they are women. Women who are as athletically gifted as they are intellectually sound. And, more significantly, women who play professional basketball.

Do you think that for a second, these same young girls would think less of these women if they knew some of them were lesbians? Do you think that it would lessen the impact that these players have on them?

I highly doubt it.

The truth is that all these girls care about is whether or not Diana Taurasi scores from the three-point line or if Lisa Leslie is going to dunk next time she drives the lane.

So tell me then, why the WNBA continues to avoid the lesbian word as if it’s steaming pit of bubbling hot tar?

Lesbian. It’s the big pink-colored elephant sitting in the center of the court with a sweatband wrapped around its head. In fact, when you think about it, the WNBA is just one huge closet filled with jerseys, warm up pants, sneakers and, well, a bunch of lesbians.

Until all-star Sheryl Swoopes decided to come out in 2005, only three lesser-known WNBA players had publicly revealed they are lesbians: one at the end of her career (Sue Wicks of the New York Liberty), one who was kicked off her team (Latasha Byears of the Los Angeles Sparks, and one who isn’t in the league (Michele Van Gorp of the Minnesota Lynx).

Where are all the rest?

Let’s face it. We all know that the WNBA is just crawling with closeted lesbians because of the fact that most of the players are constantly in the public eye. Women’s basketball has grown immensely over the past 20 years, but still falls under so much scrutiny. There is still a stigma attached to being a physical, female athlete – so much so that some players are afraid that if they come out, they will be playing into that stereotype. Swoopes even complained being gay has become an issue in the WNBA.

While not acting blatantly homophobic, the WNBA prefers to focus on obviously straight players, even going so far as to put out a press release a few years ago listing all those who were married or engaged. They push the family-oriented persona, afraid that anything else might taint they’re image.

What we can’t forget is that lesbians come in all shapes and sizes, from femme to butch to anywhere in between. Some are athletes, some are musicians, and some are even political figures. Gays exist in every aspect of every avenue of life. Even on the basketball court. I don’t understand why it’s seemingly bad in the leagues eyes for a player step forward and say, “Yes, I’m gay. And yes, I happen to still be a strong, determined, talented woman.”

There have been hopeful signs with the league, however. Many of the individual teams actively play to the gay crowd with promotions and gay pride nights, knowing full well that lesbians make up a solid base of season ticket support. Unfortunately though, it’s a city-by-city affair.

I’m waiting for the day when the WNBA comes out of the closet … hopefully I won’t have to wait too long.

It makes me wonder which will come first, the folding of the league or the opening of the closet door … care to make a friendly wager?

wnba, women’s basketball, sheryl swoopes, diana taurasi, lisa leslie, sue wicks, michael jordan, charles barkley, Latasha Byears, Michele Van Gorp, coming out as an athlete, basketball player, closet, gay pride nights